X-Men

Move over “X-Men,” it’s time for some “New Mutants.” 20th Century Fox is expanding its “X-Men” franchise with a new stand-alone spinoff film to be written and directed by Josh Boone. “We’re so excited to explore this new part of the X-Men universe, and so excited to do it with Josh, who is uniquely suited to tell this story about young characters,” confirmed Simon Kinberg in a statement. The “X-Men” veteran producer is slated to produce the film with Lauren Shuler Donner. Most recently, Boone directed “The Fault in Our Stars,” the 2014 adaptation of the John Green young adult novel of the same name starring “Divergent” series costars Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort as teens who meet in a cancer patients’ support group and fall in love. The film grossed $307.2 million worldwide during its theatrical run. Boone’s first […]

“X-Men: Apocalypse” director Bryan Singer has shared the first behind-the-scenes look of his mutants from the set of his upcoming film. As if to remind the world that the “Avengers” are not the only superpowered Marvel team on the block, Singer took to Instagram on Thursday to reveal an image of Lana Condor and Sophie Turner as their mutant counterparts Jubilee and Jean Grey. Fun second day with @sophie_789 @lanacondor #JeanGrey #Jubilee #XMEN #XMenApocalypse A post shared by Bryan Singer (@bryanjaysinger) on Apr 30, 2015 at 9:10am PDT If Jubilee and Jean’s fashion choices were not enough of an indication, Singer’s previous Instagram photo from the set offers further evidence that at least part of the film will take place “around 1983.” Fans were also treated to the first official look at Kodi Smit-McPhee as Nightcrawler on 20th Century Fox’s […]

In Marvel’s original “House of M,” Wanda Maximoff helped usher in a seismic change in the universe with her “No more mutants” proclamation — a charge that essentially wiped out the powers of millions of mutants. But what if that never happened? What if the Magneto-led utopia that the Scarlet Witch had previously created had just continued? That is the premise of Marvel’s new “House of M.” This new worldview will shape the Monarchy of M territory and will be part of the ongoing Secret Wars’ Battleworld series. Dennis Hopeless, who’s current run on “Spider-Woman” is getting a lot of positive buzz after a brief cover controversy, is shaping this universe, with art from Kris Anka. Hero Complex is revealing the cover for issue No. 1, and we caught up with Hopeless to ask a bit about this new section of Battleworld and the family dynamics in […]

Spider-Man may not be teaming with the Avengers on the big screen for some time, but Southern California fans can watch the webslinger side-by-side with Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, Black Widow and even Wolverine and his fellow X-Men this week. The arena stunt show, “Marvel Universe Live,” which has been performed in various U.S. cities over the last year, opens in Anaheim on Thursday, before eventually making its way to Ontario and Inglewood. Bringing together more than 25 Marvel icons, the Feld Entertainment-produced show pits Spidey and other superheroes against some of the Marvel Universe’s most nefarious villains. The powerful cosmic cube — once shattered by Thor — has been reconstructed by Loki, who teams with baddies like Red Skull, Madame Hydra, Electro, Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus, to use the cube to destroy the planet. To celebrate the show’s Anaheim kickoff, the first 250 attendees dressed in a […]

‘X-Men: Apocalypse” has found its Nightcrawler, casting 18-year-old Kodi Smit-McPhee as the teleporting indigo mutant. Director Bryan Singer announced the casting on Instagram late Tuesday. Nightcrawler, whose real name is Kurt Wagner, in the comics is the child of shape-shifting mutant Mystique and possesses powers of teleportation, night vision and superhuman agility. Also, he has a tail. The character was previously portrayed by Alan Cumming in 2003’s “X2.” Smit-McPhee, whose credits include “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” “ParaNorman” and “Let Me In,” joins young actors Sophie Turner (as Jean Grey), Alexandra Shipp (Storm) and Tye Sheridan (Cyclops), who were cast last month. Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult and Rose Byrne are reprising roles they previously played in the film franchise. Oscar Isaac is set to play the popular titular villain of the 1990s storyline […]

“Game of Thrones” star Sophie Turner is leading a trio of new actors joining Bryan Singer’s upcoming “X-Men: Apocalypse.” Turner will play Jean Grey, a role originated on screen by Famke Janssen in Singer’s 2000 “X-Men”; Alexandra Shipp has been cast as Storm, originally played by Halle Berry, while Tye Sheridan will play Cyclops, a role that first went to James Marsden. Shipp’s credits include “Drumline: A New Beat,” and she starred for television in “Aailyah: The Princess of R&B”; she also has a role in the upcoming NWA movie, “Straight Outta Compton.” Sheridan has appeared in such features as “Mud” and “The Tree of Life.” Oscar Isaac will star as the powerful villain in “X-Men: Apocalypse,” the next installment in the long-running Fox franchise based on the Marvel Comics series. Singer is set to direct the film, which is […]

Oscar Isaac will star as the powerful villain in “X-Men: Apocalypse,” the next installment in the long-running Fox franchise based on the Marvel Comics series. Bryan Singer is set to direct the film, which is scheduled for release on May 27, 2016. The casting means that Isaac, an acclaimed actor who garnered critical attention for his role in “Inside Llewyn Davis,” among other roles, will have two blockbuster franchises on his resume — he also is due to appear in J.J. Abrams’ highly anticipated “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which is set to arrive in theaters late next year. Singer originally announced “X-Men: Apocalypse” on Twitter last December; the movie will see the mutants face off against the popular titular villain of the 1990s storyline “Age of Apocalypse.” “It’s another one of the great ‘X-Men’ storylines, which is cool,” franchise […]

Josh Zetumer has been hired to write the script for Fox’s “X-Men” spinoff, “Gambit.” Zetumer’s script will be based on a treatment written by Chris Claremont, who created the comic book character, a fast-talking former thief whose given name is Remy LeBeau, with artist Jim Lee. Fox confirmed the news Friday afternoon. A Cajun charmer from Louisiana, Gambit has the ability to control kinetic energy, often charging items he touches, turning them into explosives and throwing them as weapons (playing cards are a favorite). The character made his comic book debut in 1990 and has been featured in several “X-Men” animated series and video games; Taylor Kitsch played the rogue in Gavin Hood’s spinoff film, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” The project is the latest in a series of films for the busy actor. Tatum was recently seen opposite Jonah Hill in […]

The power of the Juggernaut has been a thorn in the X-Men’s side since its introduction in “X-Men” No. 12 (July 1965). Marvel Comics is bringing that power back into the spotlight with “Amazing X-Men” No. 15. Cain Marko — step-brother of Professor Charles Xavier — has been the longest tenured person to possess the power, which is given to individuals through the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak. The being, Cyttorak, also corrupts the possessor — which Colossus discovered in a recent story line. The gem will be appearing on Earth again, but a new danger could rise as the call to claim the power goes to many different people — many of them villains — throughout the Marvel Universe. The book will be written by Christopher Yost, and Hero Complex caught up to the writer to get some of the […]

Two years ago, at the age of 16, Jillian Kirby began a campaign designed to honor the legacy of her late grandfather, Jack Kirby, the comics legend who created or co-created a host of iconic Marvel characters — Captain America, the Fantastic Four, X-Men, the Avengers and Thor, among them. Titled Kirby4Heroes, the charitable venture was launched to generate donations for the Hero Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping comic book creators in need, offering assistance to artists and writers. Once again, this year Kirby is hoping to raise money while celebrating the wide-ranging influence of the artistry of her grandfather, who dreamed up many of his heroes in the basement of his Long Island home. (Jillian’s father, Neal Kirby, wrote a first-person account of his childhood in the house for Hero Complex in 2012.) On Aug. 28 — what would have […]